A hydraulic binder includes a Portland clinker having a Blaine specific surface of 4000 to 5500 cm.sup.2/g, from 2.5 to 8% of sulphate expressed by mass of SO.sub.3 relative to the mass of clinker, from 1.5 to 10% of calcium nitrite and/or calcium nitrate expressed as anhydrous mass relative to the mass of clinker and from 15 to 50% of a mineral addition including calcium carbonate by mass relative to the total mass of binder.

The present invention provides a dry mix of cement, sand, metakaolin in the amount of 5 wt % or less, based on total solids in the dry mix, and aluminum cement in a low amount (≦1 wt. %, based on total solids in the dry mix) useful as a tile grout, as well as uses thereof and to methods of using the same as a tile grout. The dry mix when made into a mortar exhibits excellent resistance to efflorescence as a tile grout.

The present invention provides a dry mix of cement, sand, metakaolin in the amount of 5 wt % or less, based on total solids in the dry mix, and aluminum cement in a low amount (≦1 wt. %, based on total solids in the dry mix) useful as a tile grout, as well as uses thereof and to methods of using the same as a tile grout. The dry mix when made into a mortar exhibits excellent resistance to efflorescence as a tile grout.

Methods and a slaker for removal of heavy grit during batchwise slaking of burnt lime in a slaker (2) for the production of lime slurry with a high degree of fineness and prolonged sedimentation time are described, where the following processing steps are carried out during the slaking process: a)—reduction of the stirring of the slaker (2) from a normal stirring speed to a lower stirring speed, b)—opening of an upper inlet valve (60) in a collector (70) mounted in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) to lead sinking grit in the slurry batch to the collector (70), whereupon the upper inlet valve (60) is closed after a given time period, c)—increase the stirring in the slaker (2) back to the normal stirring speed, d)—after a given time period with normal stirring speed, a regulating valve (22) in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry to an external storage tank (3), and e)—when said regulating valve (22) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry, a lower outlet valve (62) in the collector is optionally opened for emptying of collected grit.

Methods and a slaker for removal of heavy grit during batchwise slaking of burnt lime in a slaker (2) for the production of lime slurry with a high degree of fineness and prolonged sedimentation time are described, where the following processing steps are carried out during the slaking process: a)—reduction of the stirring of the slaker (2) from a normal stirring speed to a lower stirring speed, b)—opening of an upper inlet valve (60) in a collector (70) mounted in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) to lead sinking grit in the slurry batch to the collector (70), whereupon the upper inlet valve (60) is closed after a given time period, c)—increase the stirring in the slaker (2) back to the normal stirring speed, d)—after a given time period with normal stirring speed, a regulating valve (22) in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry to an external storage tank (3), and e)—when said regulating valve (22) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry, a lower outlet valve (62) in the collector is optionally opened for emptying of collected grit.

Provided herein are zero carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission processes and systems to carry out the processes, comprising a) calcining limestone in a cement plant in an electric kiln to form a mixture comprising calcium oxide and a first gaseous stream comprising clean carbon dioxide, wherein the clean carbon dioxide comprises no gaseous or non-gaseous components from combustion of fuel; b) treating the mixture comprising calcium oxide with a N-containing salt solution under one or more dissolution conditions to produce a first aqueous solution comprising calcium salt; and c) contacting the first aqueous solution with the first gaseous stream comprising clean carbon dioxide under one or more precipitation conditions to produce a precipitation material comprising vaterite, aragonite, calcite, or combinations thereof.

Provided herein are zero carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission processes and systems to carry out the processes, comprising a) calcining limestone in a cement plant in an electric kiln to form a mixture comprising calcium oxide and a first gaseous stream comprising clean carbon dioxide, wherein the clean carbon dioxide comprises no gaseous or non-gaseous components from combustion of fuel; b) treating the mixture comprising calcium oxide with a N-containing salt solution under one or more dissolution conditions to produce a first aqueous solution comprising calcium salt; and c) contacting the first aqueous solution with the first gaseous stream comprising clean carbon dioxide under one or more precipitation conditions to produce a precipitation material comprising vaterite, aragonite, calcite, or combinations thereof.

A system and related methods for the production of lime sorbent compositions from a calcium carbonate feedstock formed using flash calcination to produce the intermediate calcium oxide material.

An apparatus includes a fluidized bed vessel with inlet ports arranged to receive at least one feed stream comprising calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, water, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed vessel. The calcium oxide contacts the water to initiate a hydrating reaction to produce calcium hydroxide and heat. The fluidized bed vessel is configured to operate with a fluidization velocity that fluidizes and separates at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and at least a portion of the calcium oxide into a first fluidization regime, and at least a portion of the calcium hydroxide and at least another portion of the calcium oxide into a second fluidization regime. The apparatus further includes a heat transfer assembly configured to transfer heat of the hydrating reaction to the calcium carbonate, and a cyclone configured to separate a portion of the fluidization gas from a portion of at least one of the calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate or calcium oxide.

An apparatus includes a fluidized bed vessel with inlet ports arranged to receive at least one feed stream comprising calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, water, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed vessel. The calcium oxide contacts the water to initiate a hydrating reaction to produce calcium hydroxide and heat. The fluidized bed vessel is configured to operate with a fluidization velocity that fluidizes and separates at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and at least a portion of the calcium oxide into a first fluidization regime, and at least a portion of the calcium hydroxide and at least another portion of the calcium oxide into a second fluidization regime. The apparatus further includes a heat transfer assembly configured to transfer heat of the hydrating reaction to the calcium carbonate, and a cyclone configured to separate a portion of the fluidization gas from a portion of at least one of the calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate or calcium oxide.